Ok, I have been working on cars for years, ASE certified since 2001, I am completely lost.

I am working on a 1993 Ford Tempo, four cylendar, automatic.
I was called in by another technician today to help diagnose a problem.

From the beginning, it was a no-start, He replaced the starter, no results, then the solonoid, still nothing, so I decided to for grins, install new battery and cable, now the starter bendix wants to throw the drive gear at the flywheel (klunk) but no spin. I have 13 volts at the starter motor, the engine spins freely, (put a breaker on the crank) but still, no turn over by way of the starter drive motor. I bench tested the starter, and found absolutely nothing wrong with it, so, just for giggles, I tried 3 other starters that I had in stock, same results. I know Fords do not require a starter shim, so that was out of the question, am I missing something?

damn solonoid would have been my guess

Try mutual match!!

Thats what I thought too, I ohmed out the old battery cables and found no issues there either, the car has been in the bay for two days now, and I am about to pull out what's left of my hair.

Noooo dont do that, I know nothing of motors or cars but I can tell you hair wont help.

pipeline mechanic really only work on cat and komatsu and such but you got me i have never heard of anything like it if you find out what it is let me know i am curious.

I just replaced mine on my 92 Ford F150

Definately, I'll let you know.

Check the flywheel? Grinding? If the bendix is engaging voltage shouldnt be a problem...

i have a 95 f150 106 thousand on it.i have put so many parts in it it is a new truck.

Check the engine ground.... check the solenoid for power when you turn the key to start..... Try jumping the solenoid from the b+ wire on the starter.... Make sure its the right starter for the vehicle and its engaging in the flywheel properly....

I am about to pull the inspection plate first thing to see the flywheel, when I looked up before re-installing the fourth starter, I saw no evidence of wear or damage to the flexplate. I wound up leaving the shop early today due to my shortened temper thanks to this heap.

Do you have power on the solenoid when you try to crank the engine? Is it a remote or attached solenoid?

try replacing the transmission safety switch

I thought of the starter, since there are two for that car, one for the manual and one for the automatic, the manual has a longer snout so to speak and will not fit the automatic trans opening. What I am thinking of doing is spinning the engine a little and seeing if the starter will engage it somewhere else just in case the flexplate is warped. If it were my car, it would have become a 3 foot by 3 foot cube by now.

http://www.2carpros.com/makes/ford/tempo.htm

try this site bro .. on the phone .. let me know

its probly a switch

Try testing it on the car instead of just replacing parts.... all you need is Power, ground and power to the switching wire on the solenoid.... If you dont have power to the switching terminal.... then check your P/N switch and your ignition switch....

Yeah, it is funny, I replaced the wires just to eliminate any possible factors, then used a pistol grip remote starter accross the new solonoid, which in essescence was like using a brand new start circuit all together. I plan on dissassembling the system one more time tomorrow, and starting over, piece by piece to see if maybe I physically missed something, I have never seen such a "gremlin" Watch, I'll bet a coffee it is something rediculously simple.

That's what you get for working on a Tempo Tell them to cube it and buy another car...and not a ford.